Developing and Using a Partnership Covenant to Guide a Study of Late HIV Diagnosis

Abstract

Late diagnosis of HIV is an important problem in the United States, particularly in ethnically and socially diverse communities. We created and used a partnership covenant to ensure our adherence to community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles as we began studying and addressing individual and structural barriers to timely HIV testing. Sample CBPR principles were used to help develop a partnership covenant that in turn was used in steering committee (SC) meetings to gauge our adherence to CBPR in our work together and in the field. Continuing dialogue around our fidelity to the covenant resulted in concrete changes including a "crash course" on sampling for community partners and development of a community advisory board (CAB). Our ability to meet the project's specific aims was enhanced by using the covenant. Although time consuming, development and use of a CBPR covenant can improve high-level engagement and help to accomplish a study's specific aims.